News Release

16 September 2014

Mayor welcomes Helicopter Trust’s constructive approach

Mayor Len Brown has welcomed the decision by the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust not to apply for funding from the Auckland Amenities Funding Board for the 2015/16 financial year on his recommendation.

“The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust is taking a very constructive approach by deciding not to seek funding through the current funding board process, to avoid the messy situation we all found ourselves in earlier this year,” Mr Brown says.

“We need to avoid another round of wasteful legal battles, and the Trust’s decision to seek capital funding for 2015/16 contributes to achieving exactly that.

“The Trust has my support and the support of Aucklanders and I will work with my colleagues to determine what an appropriate contribution to the Trust is while we fix the long-term funding model.”

The Mayor said he is working with the Funding Board and the 10 arts organisations and emergency services providers to develop a more consistent and fairer funding model than the current system. Importantly, a new model will need to encourage all amenities to maximise their private fundraising.

The review process announced by Mr Brown in March this year is due to be completed before the end of the current financial year and would apply to funding decisions from 2016/17 onwards.

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